Le Pen calls for support after party funds seized

PARIS - France's far-right National Rally on Monday urged politicians of all stripes to denounce a seizure of the party's public subsidies by judges investigating illicit funding allegations, as it began an emergency fund-raising drive.

Party leader Marine Le Pen called on "those who fight for democracy" to "stand up for their principles" after judges withheld two million euros ($2.4 million) in subsidies granted to French political groupings.

She and other National Rally lawmakers are accused of using funds earmarked for parliamentary assistants when they were European Parliament MPs to pay for France-based staff over several years starting in 2009.

On Monday sources close to the inquiry told AFP that four more people had been charged last month.

The party, known until recently as the National Front, has set up a website to collect donations from supporters.

It had expected to touch roughly 4.5 million euros in subsidies this year, proportional to the party's results in recent elections - Le Pen beat out candidates from several rival parties to face off against Emmanuel Macron in last year's presidential vote.

Such subsidies are common in European countries, which see them as a way of ensuring a level playing field while limiting the risks of political corruption or illegal funding.